EL PASO — They crossed the U.S.-Mexico border like beggars, tired, hungry and alone. They had no papers or names.
That was, until big-hearted border officers took in these destitute immigrants, who found new lives in America as Selma and Lieu, Petunia and Peanut, Cupid, Penelope, Selena and Floyd.
This border city, sometimes called the Ellis Island of the Southwest , has long been known for its generosity toward immigrants, and that spirit extends to newcomers on four legs.
For 12 years, a Borderland nonprofit called Bridge Pups Rescue has helped foster and adopt these accidental migrants into loving homes in the United States.
Founder Ruby Montana rescued her first “bridge pup” after her brother became a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer in their hometown more than a decade ago. He noticed strays wandering over the international bridge from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, into El Paso.
“They were usually in terrible condition, starving or limping or covered in fleas and ticks,” she said. “He would hide them; I would pick them up and find them fosters. When we got caught, we were scared the other agents were going to be angry, but they were totally on board. It became unofficial protocol.”